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A new kitchen design absolutely has to work with your lifestyle, otherwise it will be a waste of time and money. Mistakes made at the planning stage, when lifestyle isn’t taken into account, can cause major headaches later on. You could even end up hating your new kitchen, because it just doesn’t work for you and your family.To prevent this from happening and to end up with your perfect kitchen, here are 7 essential questions to ask yourself before you even think about planning:​

How do we use the kitchen? Observe your family’s use of your current kitchen, noting where everyone likes to sit and what they do in the kitchen. Is it a gathering/social space where everyone congregates, or do you just cook and leave?

What’s our morning routine? A well designed kitchen will make mornings easier, not harder. Make a note of your morning routine, considering what you’d need to make it run just as smoothly (or more so) and what would actually slow things down.

Am I a messy cook? Your style of cooking, and your attitude to the washing up, will definitely affect the layout and design of your kitchen. For example, it wouldn’t be practical to have a sink overflowing with dishes right in the centre of an island unit, and you might need to leave extra space for a bigger dishwasher.

Do I use lots of workspace? If lots of family members like to get involved in the cooking, or you’re just the type of cook that leaves everything everywhere, then you’re going to need plenty of worktop space. What they say is true – you can never have too much worktop space.

How much stuff do I have? If your home is bursting with gadgets, gizmos, pans and utensils, then you’ll need lots of storage space. More importantly, you’ll need lots of storage space that can be hidden away out of site and organised properly so that everything is easily accessible.

How social are you? If you love to have friends round for dinner or have the whole family use the kitchen at once, then an open-plan design is probably the best option. Islands are great for encouraging socialisation if you have the space, while those wanting to keep an eye on kids will want to create a kitchen diner with views across the whole room.

Which areas do I use the most? Ask a family member or friend to track you when you’re cooking, noting down the routes you use to move through the space and which areas you use the most. This will not only help you to create the most efficient layout, but will also highlight where you’ll need to put in task lighting.

Once you’ve thought carefully about all of these questions and have made a start on the design, make sure to consult a specialist kitchen fitter to check that all your ideas will actually work in the space. A&J Kitchens have lots of experience fitting all kinds of kitchens into all kinds of spaces, so are perfectly placed to offer expert advice and tips.

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